English Premier League side Chelsea FC has appointed former Super Eagles star Seyi Olofinjana to a newly created talent management role focused on Africa, Soccernet.ng reports.
In this role, Olofinjana, who has capped for the Super Eagles of Nigeria 56 times, will promote and support emerging talent across the continent.
The former Nigerian midfielder will also be instrumental in recruitment recommendations and will collaborate closely with a newly appointed scout dedicated to African talent.
Olofinjana began his football career in Nigeria, playing for Crown FC and Kwara United, before moving to Norwegian club SK Brann in 2003. A year later, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.
This experience will help Chelsea strengthen their connections in Africa and assist both Chelsea and Strasbourg, BlueCo’s sister club in France, in identifying and developing African talent.
Additionally, Olofinjana will support players in their adaptation process once they arrive at their new clubs.
Olofinjana is also the executive director of Imperial FC, a third-division Nigerian club that has developed a successful academy. This academy has been instrumental in nurturing talents like Taiwo Awoniyi, who transferred to Liverpool in 2015 and now plays for Nottingham Forest.
His appointment is expected to open doors for many Nigerian talents and other African players, similar to Chelsea’s pursuit of Hafiz Ibrahim.
Chelsea has seen significant success with African players such as Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, and John Obi Mikel, from other clubs. But, Olofinjana’s role is a strategic move to tap directly into African talent pools.
